Method and apparatus for assembling parts



June 21, 1949.

H. G. KELLOGG METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1946 JZIIYVENTOR.

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METHOD AND APPA RATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS Filed Nov. 18, 1946 7 8 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS Filed NOV. 18, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 VIIYE=E IE LE: 7

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ATTORNEYS June 21, 1949. H. e. KELLOGG METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS Filed Nov. 18, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 E w? 0T 0 o O m 7 my June 21, 1949. KELLQGG METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS Filed Nov. 18, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 & I p a 2 u a yia 5 7 I /\\H\ V m 2. m. M W I I w w m 5 w W KZQ 5 5 2 m a 5 5 Patented June 21, 1949 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS Homer G. Kellogg, Highland Park, Mich, assignor to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, v Mich, a corporation of New York Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,525

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for riveting material.

One of the objects of this invention is to rivet the material at preselected locations while the material is moved continuously along a path of travel. This arrangement greatly facilitates riveting two or more parts together, and is especially applicable where the parts are in the form of elongated strips, because it enables performing the riveting operation at the delivery end of the equipment employed to roll the strips. Thus, with the present invention, rolling of the strips and riveting the strips together may be performed in one continuous operation without stopping or handling the strips.

Another object of this invention is to successively cut rivets from a length of rivet stock and to punch the material while it is being continuously advanced by forcing the rivets through the material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an assembly for cutting a rivet from the lower end of a length of stock supported to one side of the path of advancement of the material, advancing the rivet with the material into registration with a punch, moving the punch and rivet in the direction of advancement of the material at the same rate as the material, punching the material while the latter is in motion by forcing the rivet through the material with the punch, returning the assembly to its retracted position and feeding another length of rivet stock to the assembly.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on the line ll of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in a different position;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5'--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 56 of Figure 1; I

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line !7 of Figure 4;

Figures 8, 9 and are respectively cross sectional views taken on the lines 8-8, 9-9 and l0-ll3 of Figure 1;

- inner walls of the ribs 22.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line H--l I of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line |2--l 2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-I3 of Figure 8;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5-|5 of Figure 1;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line lit-l6 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the slide mechanism forming a part of the apparatus;

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on the line l8-l8 of Figure 1; and

Figure 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the slide mechanism shown in Figure 1.

The method and apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention may be advantageously used wherever it is necessary to secure two or more thicknesses of material together by a multiplicity of rivets. However, for the purpose of illustration, the invention is shown as employed in connection with the fabrication of a strip 2!! having a substantially continuous length and having the cross sectional contour indicated in Figures 2, 4 and 6 of the drawings. In detail the strip 20 is rolled by suitable equipment, not shown herein, to form the base portion 2| of the strip with hollow upstanding ribs 22 at opposite longitudinal edges thereof and to also form inwardly extending attaching flanges 23 at the edges of the The flanges 23 are engaged with the base portion 2| of the strip and are rigidly secured to the base portion at longitudinally spaced points by rivets. As will be more fully hereinafter set forth, the above apparatus may be located at the delivery end of the rolling equipment in a position to receive the strip 20 as the latter is discharged from the equipment and is provided with means for riveting the flanges 23 to the base portion 2| of the strip at preselected points without stopping or handling the strip. Thus when the strip leaves the apparatus, it is formed to the desired predetermined cross sectional contour, and the flanges 23 at opposite edges of the strip are riveted to the base portion 2| of the strip.

The apparatus briefly described above is shown in the several figures of the drawings as comprising a frame having a base 24 and having pairs of columns 25 and 25 extending upwardly from the base 24 in spaced relation to each other longi-y tudinally of the base. The strip 29 is advanced between the pair of columns 95 by rolls 2'5 and 23 having the peripheral portions contoured to cooperate with one another in providing a recess corresponding in shape to the cross sectional contour of the strip 29. The roll 2'8 is supported below the path of travel of the strip 20 on a shaft 29 having opposite end portions respectively journalled in suitable bearings carried by the columns 25 and havin a spur gear 39 secured to one end thereof. The spur gear 30 is adapted to mesh with a corresponding gear 3! forming a part of the driving gear train on the rolling equipment not shown herein. The cooperating roll 28 is positioned above the path of travel of the strip 29 and is secured to a shaft 92 having the opposite ends suitably journalled in bearings carried by the columns 25. The roll 28 is driven in a direction opposite the roll 2'? by a gear 33 secured to the shaft 92 and adapted to mesh with a corresponding gear 55 on the shaft 29. The relative positions of the two rolls are such that the peripheral portions thereof frictionally engage opposite sides of the strip 29 and serve to advance the strip through the apparatus in the direction of the arrow indicated by the numeral 35 in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

As the strip 29 is advanced from the pair of columns 25 to the pair of columns 25, rivets 56 are forced through the attaching flanges 23 and base 2| of the strip. The opposite ends of the rivets are peened over as the strip 23 passes between the pair of columns 25 by cooperating rolls 3'! and 33. The roll 31 is supported below the strip 20 on a shaft 39 having the opposite end portions respectively journalled in suitable bearings carried by the columns 26. The peripheral portion of the roll 3'! is formed with laterally spaced annular grooves 99 for respectively receiving the lower ends of the rivets extending through the opposite attaching flanges 23. The roll 31 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by a spur gear M secured to one end of the shaft 39 and adapted to mesh with an idler gear 42 secured to a shaft 93 extending parallel to the shaft 99. The opposite ends of the shaft 43 are respectively journalled in bearings mounted on the base 24 and the gear 42 meshes with an intermediate gear M. The intermediate gear 44 is secured to a shaft 45 having its axis extending parallel to the axis of the shaft 93 and havin the opposite ends suitably journalled in bearings fixed to the base 24. The intermediate gear M meshes with an idler gear 46 secured to a shaft 4'! extending parallel to the shaft 45 and having the opposite ends journalled in bearings mounted on the base 24. The gear 46 also meshes with the gear 99, so that the riveting roll 3'! is rotated by the gear 3! in the same direction as the feed roll 21.

The roll 98 is supported above the path of travel of the strip 29 on a shaft 4! having the opposite ends respectively journalled in bearings mounted on the columns 26. Upon reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that a spur gear 6 48 is secured to the shaft ll and meshes with a corresponding spur gear 49 secured to the shaft 39. As a result, the roll 39 is driven in the opposite direction from the roll 31. It will further be noted from Figure 6 of the drawings that the roll 98 comprises a pair of axially spaced sections having annular grooves 51' respectively registering with the annular grooves 49 in the periphery of the roll 3? to engage the upper ends of the rivets extending through the opposite attaching flanges 23 on the strip. The arrangement is such that the two rolls cooperate with one another to peen opposite ends of the rivets as the strip 29 passes therebetween, and in this manner, the attachin flanges 23 are rigidly secured to the base portion 2i of the strip 29.

It has been stated above that the rivets 32: are forced through the strip 29 as the latter advances between the two sets of rolls on the columns 25 and 29. For accomplishing this result a slide assembly 9? is supported on the base 2 5 between the two pairs of columns 25 and 26 for movement in opposite directions in a plane parallel to the path of travel of the strip 29. In detail the slide ll" comprises a top section 48 and a bottom section 59. The bottom section comprises a generally I-shaped part having the head portions at opposite ends respectively slidably engaging the top surfaces of brackets 5| extendupwardly from and secured to the base 24. As shown particularly in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, each bracket 5! has a pair of guides 52 respectively secured to the top surface thereof adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of the latter surface. The guides 52 are formed with laterally inwardly extending flanges 53 cooperating with the top surfaces of the brackets 5| to provide recesses 55 for slidably receiving the adjacent edge portions of the heads on the part 59. The recesses 55 extend in the general direction of movement of the strip 20 and have a depth somewhat greater than the thickness of the part 50 to enable limited upward movement of the section 99 relative to the brackets 5|.

The section 99 also has a part 55 suitably secured to the top surface of the part 50' and having openings therethrough for receiving bushings 59 and 57. The bushings 59 and 57 are spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the strip 29, and are arranged in pairs with the bushings in each pair spaced laterally from each other to respectively register with the attaching flanges 23 at opposite sides of the strip 29. In the present instance the bushings at one side of the strip 29 are staggered with respect to the bushings at the opposite side of the strip, and the part 59 is formed with openings 58 in alignment with the bushings. It will also be understood from the following description that the purpose of the bushings and openings 59 is to enable dispensing the stock stamped from the sheet 29 by the rivets 36.

Referring again to Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, is will be noted that the part 55 supports a pressure pad 59 positioned to frictionally engage the bottom surface of the strip 20 between the laterally spaced rivets 36. In detail the pad 59 extends for substantially the full length of the section 49 and is yieldably urged into engagement with the base 21 of the strip 29 by springs 66 located in recesses formed in the part 55. Shifting movement of the pad 59 relative to the sec-- tion 49' is prevented by pins 6| projecting downwardly from the pad 59 into recesses 62 formed in the part 55. The purpose of the pad 59 is to yieldably urge the strip 29 into engagement with the top section, and it will be noted that the top surface of the part 55 is formed with a recess 63 for receiving the pad 59 upon upward movement of the section 49.

Upon reference to Figures 2, 4 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that the part 55 is provided with laterally outwardly extending cam engaging surfaces 64 between the head portions at opposite ends of the part 50 for respectively en- ZA'ZEWQQ gaging a, pair of cams; 65;. The: cams 65 are:.secured to the shaft and are. fashioned to raise the slide section 49, three; times for each revolution of the shaft 45.,

The top section 418 of the slide 41 is provided with a pair of members 66 andv 61 supported for relative sliding movement in opposite directions along the path of travelof the strip 20,. As shown particularly in Figure 19, the member 66 is substantially inverted T-shaped, and is slidably supported in a correspondingly shaped recess formed in the member 6 Actually, the member 6 t is assembled from three parts indicated in Figure 19 by the reference characters 58, 69 and 10. The. above parts are-secured together at opposite ends by spacers H to form the inverted T-shaped slot.

The section 4'! of the slide also has a member 12 positioned above the member 66 and being substantially I -shaped in configuration. The rel atively narrow section of the member 12 is reinforced by a strip i3 secured against the top surface of the member 12 by fastener elements 14. The opposite ends of each of the head portions of the member F2 are provided with bushings 15 for slidably receiving guide pins 75. Theguide pins l6 extend downwardly through a pair of railsv Tl suitably secured to the underside of the member 12 and project through aligned openings formed in the parts 55 and 5d of the section 4.3 The above construction is best shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, and it will be apparent, that the. pins serve to guide relative vertical movement: of the two sections of the slide 41'. It will also be noted from Figures 9 and 11 thatthe twosections of the slide are normally urged in directions away from each other by means of coil springs 1:8 having the upper ends seated in recesses 1-9 formed in the adjacent portions of'the, rails H and having the lower ends extending through openings 85) in the part 55. into recessesfil formed in the part.

The members 66 and 6'? aretied to the mem ber 72 by pins 82 havingthe upper ends extending through openings in the-member l2 and abutting the bottom surface of the reinforcing strip 13.,

The lower ends of the pins respectively slidablyengage in openings 83 formed in the parts 69 and ill adjacent opposite ends of the latter. The members 66 and 61 are yieldably urged as unit toward the top surface of the strip 26 by coil springs 84 having the upper ends extending into openings 85 formed in the member 1-2 and abutting the reinforcing strip 13. The lower ends of the coil springs M respectively engage in recesses es formed in the rails 69 and is adjacent the pins 82.

Extending transversely of the slide 4"! above the latter is a shaft 8'! having the opposite ends journalled in bearings suitably supported; on columns 88 mounted on the base 24 betweenthe columns 25 and 26. The shaft; 8'! is: drivenlay-e1v gear 89 secured to one. end of the. shaft and ar ranged to mesh with a gear 9t secured to the-shaft 415. A pair of; cams Q! are secured to the shaft M at points spaced from each other axially of; the shaft 8? and assume positions at opposite sides. of the intermediate portion of: the I-shaped member" l2. Each cam Si is formed, with two diametrically opposite cam portions 92 and 33. The cam Pontions 92 are arranged to respectively engage; the rails l? at opposite sides of the member 32 and thereby move the member '52 and associated parts; downwardly. It will be noted that this downward; movement is guided. by the pins, 8-2 and is also transierred to boththe members 66 and, 6.11

throughthe coil. springs 8i4., The cam portions 9h respectively engage.- opposite ends; of a cross member; 9.5 shown in Figurela of the drawings as secured; to; the member 66 intermediate the ends thereof by' fastener elements 96'. The opposite ends of the cross member project through elon-l gated slots; 91 formed in the parts 61 and 69 to ena-bleshiftingmovement of. the member 66 relativeto: the memberfi'l in, opposite directions along the path oi travel ofthe strip 20. It will be noted from Figure 19 that the opposite ends of the member 9.5:are: shaped to engage the cam portions 93 and to cooperate with the latter in mov--- ing, the member 66 in the, direction of advancementv ofthe strip 2.0 to the position shown in Fig-. ure 31,01 the drawings. This movement of the member 66 is; opposed. however, by a spring 98 shown in Figure 13 of the; drawings as having one end engaging the front end of the member 66- andhaving the opposite end abutting the adja- -centcrossmember. H. .The purpose of the spring 98 is to normally hold the member 66 in its retracted position shown in Figure l of the drawings. It is desired, however, to prevent return movement of the member 66 for a predetermined interval after the cams 93 disengage the member; 95,. and this is accomplished by providing stops 39 at opposite; sides of vthe part 55. These stopsare, positioned to engage the front edges of the cross. member 95 as the part is moved upwardly by the cams 65. Thus the member 66 is held in its advanced position until thecams release the part 55. and the springs. 18 return the part 55 to its lowermost position. When this takes place,

- the stops as are disengaged from the cross memher .95, and the spring returns the member 68' to its retracted position.

It follows from the above that the 35 and the cams 92 cooperate to move the sections 48 and id of the slide 4? toward the strip In this connection, attention is directed particularly to, Figure 7 ofthe, drawings, wherein will be noted that the cams 92 are assisted in moving the top section 58 downwardly by mechanismv comprising a link ma pivoted intermediate its ends on a, support Ill! extending upwardly from one of the guide rails 52 in the manner shown in Figure 18 of the drawings. One end of the link flit is shaped to engage the adjacent cam 92 and the opposite end of the link is connected to the upper end of an arm H33 having a roller i3 supported at the lower end thereof. The roller en gages a projection Hi5 extending upwardly from the adjacent rail H and the shaft 5 d5 of the roller is guided in a vertical slot on in the support lSl.

Th arrangement is such that when the cams 92 engage thetop surfaces of the rails ll. one of the cams also engages the front end of the link lllEl. Thus as the top section $8 is moved downwardly by the cams 92,t'he link Hill is rocked in a clockwise direction about its pivotal connection with the support 16!, and a downward thrust is applied to the top section adjacent the rear end thereof through the arm E83 and associa ed roller Hi l. It will be notedfrom the above that the auxiliary pressure applying roller ltd is fixed against slidingmovement with the slide it. However, it will also. be noted from Figure 7 of the drawings that the cam engaging surface M6 on the link H39 and the projection H35: are of a length which corresponds to the extent of sliding movement of I the slide. 47".

In order to. assure uniform movement of the two sentionsiof the slide toward one another, the construction shown in Figure 17 is provided. In de tail the rear end portions of a pair of links I01 are respectively pivoted to the sections 48 and 68' at each side of the latter. The front ends of the links I07 at each side of the slide are pivoted together and are pivoted to the rear end of a link Hi8 having the front end pivoted to the corresponding ends of a pair of links I09. The rear ends of the links I09 are respectively pivoted to the sections 48' and 49. The above linkage at opposite sides of the slide prevents cooking or tilting of the two slide sections 48 and 49' as the latter are moved toward and away from each other.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be noted that two pairs of punches H6 and III are secured to the member I2 of the slide section it. The pair of punches Hi3 are spaced rearwardly from the pair of punches III and the punches of each pair are staggered with respect to each other in the manner shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The punches IIil are actually aligned with the bushings 56 in the section 49 and respectively project through openings H2 formed in the parts t9 and '50 of the member iii. The pair of punches I I I are aligned with the bushings 5'! in the slide section 49' and respectively extend through openings H3 formed in the parts 69 and of the member 61. Thus, it will be noted that the punches are moved downwardly as a unit with the slide section 68, or in other words, with the member I2.

It will be noted from Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings that two pairs of bushings IN and 5 55 are also carried by the section 48 of the slide 1?. The pair of bushings IM are respectively secured in openings formed in the parts 6Q and iii. The pair of bushings H5 are also respectively secured in openings formed in the parts 65-3 and I0. The bushings H4 are spaced forwardly from the punches H0 and the bushings H5 are spaced forwardly from the punches It i. Actually, the spacing between the bushings of each pair is identical to the spacing between the punches of each pair, and this arrangement will. be understood upon considering Figure 5 of the drawings. The purpose of the bushings is to support substantially continuous lengths of bushing stock i it. One length of bushing stock is extended through each of the bushings I it and I iii in the manner clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. It will be noted that the reinforcing strip '53 and the member I2 are formed with aligned openings Hi to receive the various leng hs of bushing stock.

The flanges on the inverted T-shaped member 65 are formed with two pairs of openings Ill and H8. The pair of openings II'I are adapted to respectively register with the bushings i i and the pair of openings I18 are adapted to respectively register with the bushings IE5. The construction is such as to enable projecting the lower ends of the bushing stock through the openings ill and H8 into engagement with the top surface of the part 58, so that rearward movement of the member 66 relative to the member 6? shears four rivets from the respective lengths of stock HE and locates these rivets in alignment with the pairs of openings H9 and I formed in the part 68 of the member 61. Actually, the openings H9 in the part 68 are in alignment with the punches H0 and bushings 56, while the openings I2ll in the part SI are in alignment with the punches III and the bushlngs 51.

It follows from the above that rearward movement of the member 66 by the cams 93 not only shears rivets from the respective lengths of rivet stock, but also locates the rivets in alignment with the punches. Thus the extent of rearward movement of the member 66 must be accurately determined to assure alignment of the punches with the rivets and with the bushings and 53. This alignment is assured by forming openings I2I in the flanges of the inverted T- shaped member 66 for receiving the pins 82 upon downward movement of the punches or slide section 68. The pins 82 are accurately positioned, so that when they are engaged in the openings I2 I, the member 66 is located with the openings I I9 and I20 in accurate alignment with the punches H0 and III, respectively. Thus downward movement of the punches by the cams 92 engages the punches with the rivets and forces the latter out of the openings H9 and I20, and through the strip 20. The slugs resulting from punching the work pass through the bushings 56 and 5? to the openings 58.

In as much as the strip 20 moves continuously between the slide sections, it is, of course, necessary to advance the slide at the same rate as the strip during the punching operation. The above is accomplished by a cam I22 mounted on the shaft 32 and having three equally spaced cam portions I23 for successively engaging the front end of a plunger I24. The plunger I24 is suitably slidably supported intermediate its ends on a part I2I of the machine frame with the rear end engaging an abutment I25. It follows from the above that the cam I22 rotates at the same rate as the feed roll 28 and advances the slide 3'! along the path of travel of the strip 20 three times for each revolution of the feed roll. The duration of each forward movement of the slide 47' is surficient to effect the punching operation. Return movement of the slide is effected by a second cam I26 secured to the shaft 4'! and having three equally spaced cam portions I2! arranged out of phose with the cam portions I23 previously described. The cam portions I21 successively engage the rear end of a plunger I28 slidably supported in a part I29 of the machine frame and having the front end engaging an abutment I30 carried by the adjacent guide pins I6.

It has been pointed out above that the cams 65, I22 and I26 are each provided with three equally spaced cam portions. The cams 22 and I26 are timed with respect to one another to successively move the slide 41' in opposite directions, and the cam is timed with respect to the cam I22 to move the bottom section 49 of the slide toward the top section 48 as the slide 4'! is advanced by the cam I22. The cams 9| differ from the above cams in that they only have two actuating portions 92 and 93. However, the gear 89 for rotating the cams 9 I is sufiiciently smaller than its driving gear 90 to rotate the cams 9| at the increased speed required to engage the cam portions 92 with the top slide section 48' at the same time one of the three actuating portions of the cam 55 engages the bottom slide section 49', and to engage the cam portions 93 with the opposite ends of the cross member 95 to advance the member 55 each time the slide 41 is advanced by one of the three cam portions I23 on the cam I22.

Although it is possible to feed the rivet stock by gravity, nevertheless, provision is made herein for positively feeding this stock in timed relation to movement of the slide 47. As shown in Figures 1 and 3- of the drawings, a bracket I3I is secured to the columns 25 and has a portion I32 extending rearwardly above the slide ti. The portion I 32 is formed with longitudinally spaced recesses H33 and I34 for respectively receiving cross members I35 and I36. The cross members are respectively formed with recesses I31 at opposite sides of the member I32 and each recess has an opening $33 in the bottom thereof 'for receiving a length Hit of rivet stock. As shown in Figure 16 of the drawings, a clutch member its is secured in each recess I31 and balls 14B aresupported the clutch member 139 for engagement with opposite sides of the length of rivet stock. The side walls of the clutch are tapered inwardly toward the rivet stock, and the balls are urged into wedging gagement with the rivet stock by springs t ll. it will be noted that the cross members 135 and i533 moveas a unit with the slide relative-to the bracket I32 and the latter is formed with cam surf aces 'i .12

for raising the-cross members upon ior-wardmovement of the slide. Owing to the clutch-arr angement previously discussed, movement or" the cross members in an upward direction by the cam surfaces 142 is permitted withoutinterierenoe from the clutch gal-ls 143. the cross members, however, is opposed coil springs Hi3 so that the cross members are yieldably urged into frictional engagement with the bracket I32.

Located directly below eachoi the cross members above described are additional cross bers Md and I45. These cross members are identical in construction to the cross members above described and are secured to a plate The plate M is, in turn, secured to the abutment I by a post M1 and, as a result, moves as a unit with the slide. The clutch balls Hi8 :irictionally engage opposite sides of the rivet stock and prevent upward movement of the stock by the cross members I and I36 when the iat-ter are moved upwardly by the cams I142. However, upon return movement of the slide to its retracted position, the cross members I35 and 1353 are lowered by the springs I43. Since the balls Hit grip the rivet stock, it follows that the rivet stock is .cor- A respondingly moved or fed downwardly. This downward movement of the rivet stock is permitted by the cross members its and M5, since the balls I48 do not act on'the rivet stock in this direction of movement thereof. downwardjfeeding of the rivet stock is timed with the retracting movement of the slide, so that as soon as the slide assumesits retracted position, the rivet stock is advanced or .fed into the openings Ill and his .in .the flanges of the inverted T-shaped member 36.

Operation As the strip 2'3 is advanced along its path of travel "between the sections 48' and 4'3 of the slide ill, the memberbfi is shifted in the direction of advancement of the strip by engagement of the cams .33 with the opposite ends of the cross member 35011 the member 66. During rearward movement of the member .65 relative to the .cooperating member 611, rivets 3B are actually sheared from the lower ends of the lengths of stock H 6, and these rivets are advanced to a position in alignment with the punches iii! and iii. After the member '36 is advanced relative the member 51 to the above operative position, the cams65 and 92 cooperate to move the slide sections 48 and 89" toward one another. Upon initial operation of the cams'to effect movement of the slide sections toward each other, one of This upward movement of Of course, the

10 the cam portions I23 on the cam I22 engages the plunger IZ l and advances the slide as a unit in the same direction as the strip 20, and at the same rate. As the section 49 of the slide moves toward the strip 20, the upper ends of the bushlugs 56 and 58 engage the underside of the strip 26 in alignment with the openings 3 and I20 respectively. Also, the pins 32 on the member I2 engage in the openings IN on the member 66 to accurately locate the member 65 with the rivets therein directly in alignment with the punches. In addition, upward movement of the section 43 of the slide by the cams '65 positions the stops 539 on the part in engagement with the front edges of the cross member 35 on the member 66 to hold the member 56 in its advanced position.

Continued relative movement of the slide sections toward one another is effected during advancement of the slide as a unit with the strip 2% and serves to punch the strip 20 by forcing the rivets 33 through the selected portions of the strip. Advancement of the slide 4? with the strip 23 is discontinued as soon as the punching operation is completed and the strip with the rivets 36 therein is passedbetween the riveting rolls 31 and 38 to peen the opposite ends of the rivets. In this connection, attention is directed to Figure 14 of the drawings, wherein it will be noted that the leading sides of the bushings 56 and 58 and the corresponding sides of the projections I53 are cut away to provide slots I5! of sufficient size to provide clearance for the rivets 36.

It will also be noted that upon completion of the punching operation, the cams and 92 are advanced sufiic-iently to enable the springs l8 to again separate the slide sections. During this operation, the pins 82 are removed from the openings MI in the member 36 and the stops 99 are withdrawn from the path of travel of the cross member 95, so that the spring 98 may operate to retract the member 66 relative to the member 67. During this operation, the cam I23 cooperates with the plunger I28 to return the slide as a unit to its retracted position shown in Figure l of the drawings. When the member 66 is moved to its retracted position, the openings Ill and H8 are again aligned with the respective bushings i'I l and H5. As soon as these openings are aligned with the bushings and during return movement of the slide, the bushing stock is fed downwardly through the openings II! and H8 by the cross members 35 and I36. Thus the apparatus is conditioned for the next cycle of .operation.

What "I claim as ,my invention is:

'1. An assembly fixture comprising means ,for advancing stock along a predetermined path of travel, .a punch supported to one side of the path of travel of the stock'for movement toward and away from the stock, a rivet carrying part movable relative to the punch in the direction of advancement of the stock to register a rivet with the punch, means operating in timed relation to movement of the rivet carrying member to advance both said memberand punch at the same rate as the stock, and means operable during advancement of the punch and member with the stock .to move the punch in a direction to force the rivet through the stock.

2. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing material along a predeterminedpathof travel, a slide having means for supporting a length of rivet stock at substantially right angles to the path of travel, a punch carried by the .slide and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, means movable relative to the slide in the direction of travel of the stock to cut a rivet from one end of the stock and advance the rivet to a position in registration with the punch, means responsive to movement of the rivet to a position in registration with the punch to advance the slide at the same rate as the stock, and means operable during advancement of the slide to move the punch in a direction to force the rivet into the material.

3. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a slide supported for movement along the path of travel and having first and second parts relatively movable in directions along the path of travel, a length of rivet stock having one end extending through registering openings in the parts, a punch carried by the first part and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, means for advancing the second part relative to the first part to cut a rivet from the length of stock and advance the rivet into registration with the punch, means for advancing the slide at the same rate as the material, and means operable during advancement of the slide to move the punch into engagement with the rivet and force the same through the material.

4. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a slide alternatively movable in opposite directions he path of travel and having first and second parts movable relative to each other along said path of travel, a length of rivet stock having one end ex- :32"

tending through aligned openings in the parts in the retracted positions of the latter, a punch carried by the first part and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, means for advancing the second part 4,

relative to the first part to out a rivet from the length of stock and advance the rivet into registration with the punch, means operable in timed relation to advancement of the second part to advance the slide at the same rate as the material, means operable during advancement of the slide to move the punch into engagement with the rivet and force the latter through the material, means operable in timed relation the punching operation to retract the slide, and means for retracting the second part relative to the first part to again align the openings in parts with the length of rivet stock.

5. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a slide alternatively movable in opposite directions along the path of travel and having first and second parts movable relative to each other along said path of travel, a length of rivet stock having one end extending through aligned openings in the parts in the retracted positions of the latter, a punch carried by the first part and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, means for advancing the second part relative to the first part to cut a rivet from the length of stock and advance the rivet into registration with the punch, means operable in timed relation to advancement of the second part to advance the slide at the same rate as the material, means operable during advancement of the slide to move the punch into engagement with the rivet and force the latter through the material, means operable in timed relation to the punching operation to retract the slide, means for retracting the sec- 12 0nd part relative to the first part to again align the openings in said parts with the length of rivet stock, and means operable in timed relation to the retracting means for feeding the rivet stock into the aligned openings.

6. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a slide alternatively movable in opposite directions along the path of travel and having sections supported at opposite sides of the material for relative movement toward and away from each other, means operable during successive movements of the slide in the direction of advancement of the material to relatively move the sections toward one another, and a punch carried by one of the sections and responsive to relative movement of the sections toward the material to punch the latter.

7. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, means supporting a length of rivet stock to one side of the path of travel with the stock extending perpendicular to the material, a punch positioned to one side of the path of travel and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, and means for periodically cutting a rivet from the stock and for advancing the rivet with the material into registration with said punch.

8. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, means supporting a length of rivet stock to one side of the path of travel with the stock extending perpendicular to the material, a punch positioned to one side of the path of travel and spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the material, means for periodically cutting a rivet from the stock and for advancing the rivet with the material into registration with the punch, means operable in timed relation to advancement of the rivet into registration with the punch to advance both the rivet and punch at the same rate as the material, and means operable during advancement of both the rivet and punch with the material to move the punch in a direction toward the material to force the rivet through the material.

9. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a pair of superposed parts supported to one side of the path of travel for movement relative to each other in opposite directions along the path of travel and having openings therethrough adapted to assume positions in alignment in the relative retracted position of the parts to receive a portion of the rivet stock, means for relatively moving the parts from the retracted position thereof in the direction of advancement of the material to cut a rivet from the length of stock and to advance the rivet with the material, and means for subsequently relatively moving the parts to their respective retracted positions to again align the openings therethrough for receiving another length of rivet stock.

10. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a pair of superposed parts supported to one side of the path of travel for movement relative to each other in opposite directions along the path of travel and having openings therethrough adapted to assume positions in alignment in the relative retracted position of the parts to receive a portion of the 75 rivet stock, means for relatively moving the parts from the retracted position thereof in the direction of advancement of the material to cut a rivet from the length of stock and to advance the rivet with the material, means for subsequently relatively moving the parts to their respective retracted positions to again align the opening therethrough, and means operating in timed relation to relative movement of the parts to align said openings to feed the stock into the latter.

11. An assembly fixture comprising means for continuously advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, a pair of superposed parts supported to one side of the path of travel for movement relative to each other in opposite directions along the path of travel and having openings therethrough adapted to assume positions in alignment in the relative retracted position of the parts to receive a portion of the rivet stock, means for relatively moving the parts from the retracted position thereof in the direction of advancement of the material to cut a rivet from the length of stock and to advance the rivet with the material, means for subsequently relatively moving the parts to their respective retracted positions to again align the openings therethrough for receiving another length of rivet stock, and means operable during advancement of the material to force the rivet through the material.

12. An assembly fixture comprising means for advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, first and second parts supported in superposed relationship to one side of the path of travel for movement relative to each other in opposite directions along the path of travel, said parts having openings therethrough adapted to assume positions in alignment when the parts are in their relative retracted positions, means for supporting a length of rivet stock in the aligned openings, a punch spaced from the rivet stock in the direction of advancement of the length of material and having an end portion registering with an opening through the first part, means for moving the second part relative to the first part from the retracted position aforesaid and in the direction of advancement of the material to cut a rivet from the length of stock and to advance the rivet as a unit with the material into registration with said punch, means operable in timed relation to advancement of the rivet into registration with the punch to advance both said parts with the material, means operable during advancement of both the rivet and punch with the material to move the punch in a direction toward the material to force the rivet through the material, and means for subsequently relatively moving the parts. to their retracted positions to again align the rivet stock receiving openmgs.

13. An assembly fixture comprising means for advancing a length of material along a predetermined path of travel, first and second parts supported in superposed relationship to one side of the path of travel for movement relative to each other in opposite directions along the path of travel, said parts having openings therethrough adapted to assume positions in alignment when the parts are in their retracted position, means for supporting a length of rivet stock in the aligned openings, means for relatively moving the parts from the retracted position thereof in the direction of advancement of the material to cut a rivet from the length of stock and to advance the rivet with the material along said path of travel, means operating in timed relation to relative movement of said parts in the direction of advancement of the material to connect the parts together and impart a continued movement to both parts in the direction of advancement of the material, a punch operating in timed relation to movement of both said parts along the path of travel of the material to force the rivet through the material, and means for subsequently relatively moving the parts to their respective retracted positions to again align the rivet stock receiving openings.

HOMER G. KELLOGG.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Juengst Mar. 12, 1907 Number 

